46 C O N T E X T 1 7 3 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 meeting place in the district for new migrant arrivals in Birmingham. Over the 30 years, the MMCA conducted major emergency repairs but the building’s overall condition continued to deteriorate. The Victorian Society identified it as being one of the country’s 10 most endangered buildings. Despite the MMCA maintaining the site to the best of its ability, including replacing the roof, rewiring the building, and installing a new heating and security system, the exterior elevations continued to suffer from weather and pollution. Local fundraising could not keep up with the expense of maintaining the fabric of this historic building. Birmingham City Council would not allow the owners to make any piecemeal repairs to the listed building. New allies were found. In 2002 the Moseley School of Art Association (MSAA) was formed by ex-pupils from the old school.The association bought a new emphasis and publicity to the building’s dilapidated condition. Over the next 10 years the MMCA, with assistance from the Architectural Heritage Fund and EnglishHeritage, commissioned conservation specialists to prepare a plan for restoration. In 2015 a Heritage Lottery development grant was obtained to help produce a strategy for restoration and re-use of the old school. Additional grants from Historic England helped with external repairs of the front facade. In 2018 a full National Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £1.7 million and £243,000 from Historic England enabled restoration, transforming the building and securing its future in the community.The Pilgrim Trust, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Veolia Environmental Trust also contributed. The fully restored art school is now the heart and soul of the Balsall Heath community and a major asset for the city.This important historic building provides the best possible facilities to enable local people of all backgrounds to meet, learn, exchange and grow together. By reconnecting the building to its heritage, new commercial uses as a centre for creativity are happening. The aims and vision of the Restoration of Moseley School of Art Project include: • Reconnecting the building to its heritage as a centre for creativity and inclusivity. • Developing people’s understanding of the building’s history and significance through the use of appropriate interpretation, including how the MMCA’s use of the building has added a new chapter to its story. • Bringing together people from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds to enable them to learn about each other’s cultures. • Delivering a programme of learning and participation to encourage new and underrepresented local audiences to engage with arts and heritage. This article was written by Mick McGrath of Locality with Moseley MuslimCommunity Association. A resilient heritage mentor for the National Lottery Heritage Fund, he supported MMCA’s member of staff and trustees as a critical friend over three years. • Improving and extending visitor facilities. • Creating new flexible learning and temporary gallery and exhibition spaces, adapted to showing art works and temporary exhibitions that are physically and culturally accessible to all members of the community. • Creating new opportunities for volunteering, encouraging people to develop new skills, be active and contribute to their community. The building provides four offices and studios, which can accommodate 18 people; two large studio workspaces, which currently house artists and a pottery workshop; co-worker space, providing a shared office so that people can return to the same location every day, leaving what they need overnight; hot-desk facilities that can be booked daily, weekly or monthly; two large event rooms that can be subdivided for private celebrations, workshops and classes, conferences and meetings, exhibitions and public events. Collectively, there is now a vibrant centre which attracts a wide variety of communityrelated activities, many of which give a nod to the art school’s creative past. The Restoration Project has preserved what is important about Moseley School of Art, retained its historic character, conserved its significant fabric and provided an opportunity to interpret its history. Built in 1899, it was designed by the local artsand-crafts architect William Bidlake. ‘A much-loved building has been saved from further dereliction and possible closure due to the passion and dedication of the association’s members,’ says Javed Arain, chairman of trustees. ‘This enthusiasm and tenacity have resonated with the local community and will play a key role in lifting the expectations of the neighbourhood. The full restoration programme over the last seven years would not have been possible without the support and assistance initially provided by the Architectural Heritage Fund and Historic England. A big thank you to the National Heritage Lottery Fund for its guidance, support and funding. And the support and guidance provided by Locality as a resilient heritage mentor has helped us chart our way through stormy conditions.’ Several challenges for the trustees, funders and consultants during the project were overcome, with all parties recognising the common good. The challenges are not over, but the group has survived Covid, built up a strong user base, and has good relationships with surrounding organisations, including Moseley Road Baths, a Grade II* listed building with multi-millionpound ambitions. Such initiatives also support the transformation of the high street, encouraging communities to take the lead and the creation of assets.
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